Nineteen-year-old Skyler J. Linn was sentenced in Custer County District Court Dec. 16, to 12-15 months in the Nebraska Department of Corrections. The sentence was part of a plea agreement Linn and his attorney reached with the State.
Linn was arraigned in Custer County Court Dec. 6, and was charged with three counts of burglary and one count of possession of a stolen firearm. All are Class III felonies. The burglaries involved Broken Bow businesses, including Garrett Tire, Farritor Auto Parts and Clark Dental.

Nineteen-year-old Skyler J. Linn was sentenced in Custer County District Court Dec. 16, to 12-15 months in the Nebraska Department of Corrections. The sentence was part of a plea agreement Linn and his attorney reached with the State.
Linn was arraigned in Custer County Court Dec. 6, and was charged with three counts of burglary and one count of possession of a stolen firearm. All are Class III felonies. The burglaries involved Broken Bow businesses, including Garrett Tire, Farritor Auto Parts and Clark Dental.
While Linn was scheduled only for arraignment in District Court, due to the plea bargain he opted to skip the additional hearings and proceed to sentencing. As part of the plea agreement, Linn entered a plea of no contest to the charge of possession of a stolen firearm, in exchange for the state dismissing the three burglary charges.
The decision to move on to sentencing was based primarily on the fact that Linn was also sentenced to time in prison just last week in Valley County. In that case he was sentenced on one count of theft, and one count of criminal attempt, both Class IV felonies. He was sentenced to 12-15 months on each charge, with the sentences to run concurrently.
Custer County District Court Judge Karin Noakes also ordered Linn’s sentence to run concurrent with the Valley County sentence, which will make him eligible for parole in six months. Linn was also ordered to pay $650 restitution to Garrett Tire in Broken Bow.
William A. Byrne, 21 of Broken Bow, was arraigned in Custer County District Court Thursday as well. Byrne is charged with a Class III felony for burglary, and a Class III felony for theft by taking, in connection with the Oct. 6, 2010, burglary at the McDonald’s Restaurant in Broken Bow. Byrne plead not guilty to both counts, and the case was set for jury trial Feb. 14, 2011. A pretrial conference is scheduled for Jan. 20, 2011.
Byrne’s attorney requested a bond reduction for his client, however the State argued citing Byrne is wanted in Tennessee which makes him a flight risk. Judge Noakes denied the defense request for PR bond and left his bond at 10 percent of $50,000.
Two men were sentenced to serve time in Custer County Jail Dec. 16. DeLaune V. Singing Goose, Sr., was sentenced to six months in jail on a charge of making terroristic threats, a Class IV felony. He was given credit for 38 days served, and Judge Noakes did grant work release if approved by the Sheriff.
Also sentenced to jail time was David L. Parker. He was found guilty of violating probation after being found in possession of methamphetamine. Parker was sentenced to six months in jail, with credit for 29 days served.
One other criminal case Dec. 16 involved 53-year-old Dale D. Dunkel of Evanston, Wyo. Dunkel is charged with driving under the influence - 5th offense, a Class II felony.
Dunkel has four prior DUI convictions, dating back to 1999. The Class II felony carries a minimum penalty of one year in prison, with a maximum of 50 years in prison. If convicted his drivers license would be revoked for a period of 15 years.
Dunkel entered a plea of not guilty to the charge. The case was set for jury trial Feb. 14, 2011, with pretrial conference set for Jan. 20, 2011. His bond was continued.